About Political Science

Political Science Advisory Board

Board Chair Cortney Piper graduated from UTK with honors with degrees in Political Science and Sociology. She also was a member of the Lady Vols swimming team. In 2008 Cortney started her own PR business that specializes in energy, technology and environment issues, media relations, business development, public policy and strategic communications. Cortney is also a regular commentator on WATE-TV's Tennessee this Week. She is a member of the East Tennessee Economic Council and Leadership Oak Ridge class of 2009. Cortney also chairs the City of Knoxville's Better Building Board, serves on the steering committee for the Knoxville Social Media Association, volunteers for the Golden Retriever Rescue and Lindquist Environmental Appalachian Fellowship and serves on the Hope Center's auction committee. In her free time Cortney enjoys watching UT sports, Red Wings hockey, practicing yoga and taking her adopted golden retriever, Pilot, for walks at Seven Islands.

Roy Alexander, founder and President of Alexander Incorporated, received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee in 1987. Roy, a native of Knoxville, graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville, prior to his undergraduate studies at U.T. One month after graduation he found himself leaving Tennessee for an opportunity in The Northern Marianas Islands where he established Alexander Realty & Development in 1988. Mr. Alexander's love of the people and the region of the Pacific Rim have kept him in business there for over 25 years. He now travels between homes in Tennessee and the Island of Saipan. Roy enjoys traveling, scuba diving, skiing, golf and tennis. Mr. Alexander and his wife Ella have two children.

Don Bosch received his B.A. in Political Science with honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1985. As an undergraduate, Don was president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society, and was a member of the Vols swimming team. In 1988 Don received his J.D. from the UT College of Law and embarked on his legal career. He started the Bosch Law Firm in 1991. Today Don is one of Knoxville's best known and most successful criminal defense lawyers. He is an adjunct professor at the UT College of Law, where he teaches trial advocacy and guest lectures in other courses. Don serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the University of Tennessee Athletics Board, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, and the Board of Directors for the Knoxville Museum of Art. Don is a Master of the Bench of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court and has served as the Inn's President. He is also a political and legal analyst for WBIR-TV, Knoxville's local NBC affiliate.

Alexandra Brewer received her B.A. in political science from the University of Tennessee in 2007, graduating summa cum laude. She was a member of the university's Mock Trial team and was recognized as an All-American in 2005. While at UT, Alexandra was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies. In May of 2010, Alexandra received her Masters degree in comparative politics from American University in Washington D.C. In addition, Alexandra has interned at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of International Religious Freedom. During her internship, she monitored and reported on religious freedom abuses in East Asia, particularly in Tibet and Xinjiang, China. Alexandra is currently working on her PhD in Political Science at UTK.

Debbie Chapman has a B.A. in biology from West Georgia College and an MBA from Georgia State University. She currently serves on the University of Tennessee's College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Board, is a member of UT's Alliance of Women Philanthropist, and is the Chair of the UT School of Art Advisory Board. She and her husband Jeff reside in Atlanta where Debbie is involved with various nonprofit organizations including the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Peachtree Branch.

Jeff Chapman is a 1976 graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville with a B.A. in Political Science. His involvement in UT alumni activities includes serving on the Board of the Atlanta Chapter of the UT Alumni Association of which he was President from 1985-1987. He now serves on the University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Board where he is chair of the Communications & Marketing Committee. In addition to his commitment to UTK he is vice-chair of the board of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. Jeff served as Chair of the Political Science Advisory Board from 2011 through 2013. Jeff and his wife, Debbie, have directed their donations to the Political Science Study Abroad Fund and the Chapman Faculty Research Excellence Fund for Political Science.

Susan Dakak was born in Baghdad, Iraq and immigrated to the United States in 1978. She graduated from Tennessee Tech with a B.S. in civil engineering in 1983. Ms. Dakak became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1986. She has worked for the U.S. Navy, the Cobb County, Georgia Utility Board, and ARCADIS, an international engineering company. For six months in 2004, she worked for the Coalition Provisional Authority to rehabilitate water and sewer systems in Iraq. Currently she is President of Intuitive Technologies, Inc., a Knoxville-based firm that evaluates sewer systems for municipalities, utility companies, and other engineering firms. Ms. Dakak is an active member and past president of the Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq. She took part in the ceremonial signing of Iraq's interim constitution. She has lectured and written articles on life in Iraq and, especially, the challenges facing Iraqi women.

Janan Dakak is an Information Management expert with over 30 years of experience in delivering business solutions to government agencies and private industry. Mr. Dakak has also worked as a consultant and an advisor for several United States government agencies such as the Department of Defense, State Department, and Homeland Security. Mr. Dakak is a native of Iraq and has resided in the United States since 1981. He has worked as an advisor at USCENTCOM at MacDill Air force in Tampa, Florida. He maintains many professional ties with academic groups, government and non-government organizations. He continues to pursue additional studies and research in fields relevant to the areas of Middle/East religions, politics, culture, and emerging events.

Maria Dill is a 2012 graduate in Political Science. During her time at UTK she participated in the Student Government Association as a Senator for three years, while also serving as the Assistant Director for both the Academic Affairs Committee and the New Student Relations Committee. She also was a Resident Assistant in South Carrick Hall and a 2010 Orientation Leader. More recently, Maria worked as an intern for the University of Tennessee Office of State Relations and for Tennessee's Secretary of State and as a Research Assistant for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Maria currently is the Legislative Correspondent for Congressman John J. Duncan and is also attending graduiate school in public administration at American University.

Robert Durant received his B.A. at Maryville College and his M.P.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee. He is currently Professor of Public Administration and Policy in the School of Public Affairs at American University. In 2003, Dr. Durant received the Charles H. Levine Memorial Award for excellence in research, teaching, and service to the wider community. In addition, he has won seven teaching awards, seven book awards, and two best journal article awards. He is on the editorial boards of eleven disciplinary journals, was a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand in 2002, and is a founding member and chairman of the Paul A. Volcker Endowment for Public Service Research and Education. In 2007 he was selected for the Outstanding Teaching Award in the School of Public Affairs, and he received the Leslie A. Whittington Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. In 2012 Professor Durant received the prestigious Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration. The Award honors those "who have made outstanding contributions to the professional literature of public administration over an extended career." In 2013, he received the John Gaus Award from the American Political Science Association. The award "honors the recipient's lifetime of exemplary research in the joint traditions of political science and public administration, and more generally recognizes and encourages scholarship in public administration."

Margaret Angela Franklin is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a minor in History. While at UT Chattanooga, she was a member of the Student Government Association and President of the College Democrats. She currently serves on the legislative staff for Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York where her portfolio consists of economic policy including banking, taxes, and housing, along with judiciary policy including civil liberties, judicial and military nominations, and Native American Affairs. Previously, she served as a Senior Organizing Fellow with Groundswell DC where she worked within several middle and low income communities of Washington, D.C. to provide weatherization retrofits at discounted rates. She also interned in the office of then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and served as an Associate with the United States Senate Finance Committee. Additionally, she worked on the Senate campaign for Harold Ford Jr., formerly of Tennessee and served as the Outreach Coordinator for former Texas Congressman Chet Edwards. In this role, she served as a liaison between Mr. Edwards and the African-American community in Central Texas which led to one of the highest voter turnout rates in that district within the African-American community in a non-presidential election. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she received her Master's Degree from Howard University in Public Administration and currently resides in Woodbridge, Virginia. Her passion is working to create public policy initiatives that have a lasting and positive impact on minority communities.

Ryan Haynes earned his B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from UTK. He was elected a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives as the youngest member for the 106th General Assembly and the 107th. He currently chairs the State and Local Government Sub-Committee. In addition, he serves on the Commerce Committee, Commerce Sub-Committee and full State and Local Government Committee. His past assignments include the Education Committee, Higher Education Sub-Committee. Ryan was also elected to be the Assistant House Republican Caucus Chairman in only his second term. Rep. Haynes is very involved in the civic community and is affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, East Tennessee Mental Health Association board of directors, Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors, East Tennessee Development District Board of Executive Directors, Red Cross Development Council, East Tenn. Historical Society, Knox Achieves, Read With Me, UT Alumni Association, American Council of Young Political Leaders, West Knox Republican Club, and Knoxville Civitan Club.

Hallerin Hilton Hill is well known to East Tennesseans as the host of the HHH Morning Show on WNOX radio and Anything is Possible on WBIR-TV. He has an abiding interest in public affairs and has invited members of the UT Political Science Department to appear on his radio show on numerous occasions. Hallerin also works as singer/songwriter, author, motivational speaker, and trainer. His song, "Who Would Imagine a King, co-written with Mervyn Warren, was recorded by Whitney Houston for the film The Preacher's Wife. Hallerin earned his bachelor's degree in communications at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. He lives in Knoxville with his wife Nedra and his two children, Hallerin II and Halle Nicole.

Steve Horne received his BS in History from the University of Tennessee in 1972 and his Master of Business Administration from Kansas University in 1976. He joined Ford Motor Company after graduation and served in Vehicle Operations, Finance Staff and other organizations were he held positions in finance, business planning and manufacturing. Ultimately, Steve had performance responsibility for global logistics across Ford's North American and European operations. He retired in 2002 and began a second career consulting in higher education, applying the principles of Lean Manufacturing and organizational leadership learned at Ford to engagements at Michigan State University, the University of Chicago and Harvard University. Steve retired again in 2011 and now resides in Lafayette, Indiana where he has serves as co-chair of the Community of Choice Council and helps lead efforts to improve education. He was Volunteer of the Year for the United Way in Greater Lafayette, and serves on the state Public Policy Committee for the United Way and the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette. Additionally, Steve has been deeply involved with various community and philanthropic organizations in both Indiana and Michigan. Steve is pleased to continue his service and engagement with the University of Tennessee - it is a family tradition that dates back to 1913.

Mike Keith is a native of Franklin, Tennessee and attended high school at Battle Ground Academy. He received his B.A. in political science from UTK in 1990. As an undergraduate, Mike worked for WUTK-FM and the Vol Radio Network. After graduation, Mike worked for WIVK AM/FM Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville. Mike began working with the Tennessee Titans in 1996, when that team was still the Houston Oilers. In 1999, Mike became the youngest play-by-play announcer in the NFL when the Titans promoted him to that position. He is now widely known as the "Voice of the Titans." Mike has been named as Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year eight times since 2000, has won more than twenty Associated Press state awards and has captured two national honors, including the industry's most prestigious award: the Edward R. Murrow Award for nationwide excellence in sports reporting. Keith is a member of the Battle Ground Academy Hall of Fame and the University of Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame. Mike resides in his hometown of Franklin with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Abby and Matthew.

Ross King serves as the Executive Director for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. He has worked for ACCG since 1987, serving as the Association's policy director and deputy director prior to his appointment as Executive Director in April 2010. Mr. King has dedicated his career to public service. He began his professional career in 1982 in Americus, Georgia as the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council. He served as the first state program coordinator for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) prior to joining ACCG. He serves as a member of the Georgia Humanities Council, the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB), the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Advisory Council at the University of Georgia, the Georgia Cities Foundation and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board. He was elected to serve as President of the Conference of Southern County Associations (CSCA) for 2012 – 2013. Mr. King attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 at High Point University, in High Point, North Carolina. In 1982, Mr. King completed a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Ford Little, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1986, with high honors, with a B.S. in accounting and obtained his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1989. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and American Bar Association where he is a member of the Forum on the Construction Industry. He is also a board member of the Knoxville chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of Tennessee, and is active in the Construction Financial Management Association and the Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel. Mr. Little has served as president of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association and as National Chair of Annual Giving for the UT Alumni Association during 2009-2010. He has been selected as a member of Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

Bill Lyons retired from the University of Tennessee in December 2011 after serving as a member of the Political Science faculty for three decades. He currently works as Deputy to the Mayor for the City of Knoxville. During his long career at UT Lyons served as Director of UT's Social Science Research Institute and Director of the Bureau of Public Administration, and Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Research. He authored or co-authored several books and numerous articles in professional journals. Dr. Lyons also served as a consultant to numerous government agencies, political candidates, businesses, nonprofit organizations and interest groups. He also served for over twenty years as Political Analyst for WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Greg Mackay is Director of Public Assemblies for the City of Knoxville. Greg is a graduate of the Webb School of Knoxville and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was appointed to the position of Administrator of Elections in February of 2003 and served in that capacity until April of 2011. Greg served on the Knox County Election Commission from 1990 to 1998. He helped implement Early Voting and has been an advocate for reforming the voting process. In 2009, Greg was chosen by the Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe to be one of 600 international observers to monitor Ukraine's presidential election and runoff. Since then he has been on four more OSCE missions-to Ukraine, Albania, Macedonia and Kazakhstan. He and his wife Kate live in Kingston Hills and have a teenage daughter.

Chaz Molder received his B.A. in political science from UTK in 2005. He was Student Body President during the 2004-05 academic year. During that year he was also president of the UTK chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. As an undergraduate, Chaz completed internships with Lacy, Moseley and Crossley, a Knoxville law firm, and U.S. Senator Fred Thompson's office in Washington, D.C. Chaz was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, and was a Howard Baker, Jr. Leadership Scholar. In 2005 he was a Torchbearer Recipient, which is the highest academic and leadership honor bestowed by University of Tennessee. After graduating from UTK, Chaz spent a year working as special assistant to Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers. Chaz attended law school at the University of Memphis, where he was an award-winning participant in the Mock Trial program and a recipient of the Cecil C. Humphreys Fellowship. As a law student, Chaz spent a summer at Cambridge University in England, where he studied international law & international commercial litigation. During the 2008-09 academic year, he did an externship with Magistrate Diane K. Vescovo, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Chaz received his J.D. in 2009. Currently he practices law in his home town of Columbia, Tennessee. Chaz is married to Elizabeth (Fitzhugh) Molder, also a UTK political science alumnus.

Michael Muñoz was born in Mason, Ohio, and attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, where He was selected to the USA Today All-USA high school football team. Michael received his degree in Political Science and Public Administration in 2003 at UTK and a Master of Business Administration from Miami University a few years later. Michael was a Collegiate Football All-American in 2004 and two-time team Captain while at UT. Michael has served as a Hamilton County Township Trustee in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio; Director of Development for the Anthony Munoz Foundation; and most recently in sales within Proctor & Gamble's healthcare and female beauty divisions. Michael, driven by his passion for the Latino community and with insights learned during his time at P&G, decided in 2011 to establish his own agency focusing on the untapped potential within the Latino market. Michael is married to Emily, a 2005 graduate in Nursing at UTK, and has two sons.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert J. Nicholson, III, is a Scout/Attack Helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army stationed at McGhee-Tyson Air Base, TN. He is a Knoxville native. Bob is a 1992 graduate of UTK with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Maintenance Test Pilot School and qualified in four different aircraft. Bob has two daughters, Catherine and Ashleigh and now resides in Knoxville. His military assignments have included Ft. Benning, GA; Ft. Rucker, AL (twice); Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Hunter Army Airfield, GA; Ft. Wainwright, AK and combat deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Brian Noland is President of East Tennessee State University. Previously he served as the Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Prior to that Dr. Noland served as the Associate Executive Director for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and was a faculty member in the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Noland received his B.A. and M.A in Political Science from West Virginia University, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

John Rader received his B.A., summa cum laude, in College Scholars from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2008, where he served as Student Body President and received the Torchbearer award for overall excellence. As an undergraduate, John also was selected Phi Beta Kappa, Top Collegiate Scholar, Baker Scholar and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. Following graduation, John attended UT College of Law where he received his J.D., magna cum laude, in December 2010. In law school, John served as acquisitions editor for the Tennessee Law Review and received the certificate of excellence in trial practice. During his summers, he interned for Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary R. Wade and Justice Sharon G. Lee. He also interned with Judge Harry S. Mattice, Jr., of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, as well as for Judge Julia S. Gibbons of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In his final semester in law school, John served as acting assistant district attorney in the 13th judicial district under District Attorney General Randall A. York. Following graduation from law school, John was appointed as policy and legal analyst in the Office of Governor Bill Haslam and has been serving as Assistant Deputy Counsel to the Governor since January 2012.

Wayne Ritchie is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Vanderbilt Law School. He served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 98th, 99th and 100th General Assemblies (1992 - 98) and received the Tennessee Citizen Action Leadership Award for his work on consumer rights and consumer safety issues. He currently practices law with Ritchie, Dillard, Davies & Johnson in Knoxville and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 trial attorneys in Tennessee. Mr. Ritchie is a member of the Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church and has served on various community boards, including the Bijou Theatre, the Knoxville Opera Company, the Knoxville Symphony, Nucleus Knoxville, and the Safe Kids Coalition. Mr. Ritchie and his wife Margaret have two children.

Laurie F. Rowe, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration. During her time at the University, she was an active member of the VolCorps, Achievers Committed to Excellence, Student Government Association and the Senior Gift Challenge Committee. During her senior year, she was selected as part of the Alternative Spring Break group who traveled to Boston, Massachusetts. Immediately following graduation, Laurie moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a Master of Health Services Administration degree from George Washington University. Currently Laurie is Manager of the Division of Public and Private Provider Services with the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Urban League and the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Foundation – Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, music, golf as well as spending time with her family and friends.

Thomas A. Varlan was sworn in as the 21st United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee on April 5, 2003. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a partner with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. Previously, he served as Law Director for the City of Knoxville. Prior to that he was an attorney with Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, in Atlanta. Judge Varlan is a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (B.A. in Political Science and Economics) and a 1981 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law (J.D., Order of the Coif, Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review).

Marcus Weseman is an alumnus of UTK's Master of Public Administration Program and also holds a Master of Social Work from UTK and BS in Communications from Western Michigan University. He is a Vice President and Program Director of Health Communication and Technical Training at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) where he has worked since 1978. ORAU supports the mission of the US Department of Energy and other federal agencies in the areas of public and worker health, science education, environmental protection, and national security/emergency management. ORAU is a consortium of 98 PhD granting institutions that advance scientific research and education. He manages health communication programs that educate the medical professionals and the public to reduce chronic and infectious diseases; and health & safety training programs for workers at DOE facilities. Current priorities include H1N1 pandemic flu preparedness and use of the web and social media to educate diverse audiences. He graduated from Leadership Oak Ridge' Class in 2006. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Appalachian Chapter for 12 years and currently Chairs the Financial Development Committee. He served as past chair of the East Tennessee Chapter of ASPA.

Craig Williamson received his BA (1974) and his MA (1978) in Political Science from the University of Tennessee. Since leaving UT, Mr. Williamson served as a Chemistry and Math Instructor at Roane State Community College (1978-80) and as a Program Manager at Oak Ridge Associated Universities from 1980-1998. In 1998, Mr. Williamson established University-Laboratory Associates (ULA) where he developed and managed university education and research programs for the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2001, ULA merged with the South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation (SCUREF) a not-for-profit university consortium representing the research institutions in South Carolina. That same year, Mr. Williamson was appointed as the Executive Director for SCUREF. SCUREF manages ~$10m in annual funding in university-based education and research activities in nuclear science and engineering for the U.S. Departments of Energy, Defense and Homeland Security. He has served on several external university advisory boards and has over 20 publications related to workforce development in nuclear-related areas.

Kent Woodrow received his B.S. in social sciences from UTK in 1972 and a master's degree in education from Xavier University in 1984. He taught social studies and coached athletics in the Cincinnati area high schools from 1972 to 2009. Kent was a Fulbright Scholar in the Netherlands in 1987 and 1990-91 and in Japan in 2002 and is a lifetime member of the Fulbright Association. From 1984 to 1990 Kent served as an instructor for A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C. Since 1987 Kent has served as a delegate leader for the People to People Student Ambassador Programs in Spokane, Washington. A direct descendant of President Woodrow Wilson, Kent is a contributor to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia. He is also a member of the Council of World Affairs and the Founders Society of the University of Tennessee.

Molly Flook Woodrow, a native of McLean, Virginia, received her BS with honors in 1970 from the University of Tennessee. She also holds a Master of Education and a Master of Gerontology in Public Administration from Miami University. As a UTK undergraduate Molly was a member of the UT Singers, Delta Delta Delta, and several other campus organizations. Following a high school career of thirty-one years in the Cincinnati area, she began serving as a Xavier University clinical field supervisor in 2005. She was named Teacher of the Year for her district and awarded the Ohio Best Practices Award for programs she developed there. Molly is also the Area Director in Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky for People to People Student Ambassador Programs, Spokane, Washington. [Created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, People to People was founded based on the belief that people can be more successful in bringing world peace than governments.] The People to People organization sends thousands of student delegates every year to world locations. In her capacity as Area Director, Molly selects and trains local educators and coordinates student orientations prior to the accepted students traveling. Molly and her husband Kent strongly believe in the power of exposure to different cultures. They have traveled throughout the world, and Molly recently achieved her goal of visiting all seven continents when she was privileged to explore Antarctica. Kent and Molly Woodrow are members of the UTK Founders Society.

Jamie Woodson is President and CEO of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), an education reform nonprofit organization focused on preparing Tennessee's students for college and the workforce. Jamie has been a leading figure in spearheading Tennessee's efforts to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Prior to leading SCORE, she served for more than 12 years in the Tennessee General Assembly in both the House and Senate. As Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and later as Senate Speaker Pro Tempore, Jamie was a key leader in efforts to identify and support effective teaching, overhaul Tennessee's K-12 education funding formula, raise academic standards for Tennessee students, turn around low-performing schools, and expand high-quality public charter schools in Tennessee. In addition, she was a key leader in Tennessee's work to transform public higher education by aligning Tennessee's postsecondary system and the state's economic goals through changes in academic, fiscal, and administrative policies. As a citizen legislator, she also served as general counsel for an East Tennessee manufacturing firm. Jamie serves on numerous statewide boards, including Tennessee Business Roundtable, and is a member of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission. Jamie received a Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was selected as "Torchbearer," which is the highest honor an undergraduate may receive from the university. Jamie and her husband, Bill Woodson, have three children: Joseph, Elizabeth and Caitlin.

Katie Mathews Zipper earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from UTK in 2007. As an undergraduate student, she was involved in Phi Mu, Senior Gift Committee, Student Alumni Associates, Mayor's Student Advisory Board, and Student Government Association. In 2011, Katie graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a J.D. from UT. While in law school, she served on the Tennessee Law Review, practiced through the Advocacy Clinic, and clerked for all three Knox County Criminal Court judges. Katie now practices family law with the firm Higgins, Himmelberg & Piliponis in Nashville. She is married to UT Political Science alumnus, Nathan Zipper.

Nathan M. Zipper received his B.A. in political science from the University of Tennessee- Knoxville in 2007. During his time at UT, Nathan was involved in the Student Government Association, was a member of All Campus Events and Student Alumni Associates and was named a Howard H. Baker, Jr. Leadership Scholar. Additionally, Nathan served as an intern the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. Upon graduation Nathan served with the Teach for American Corps. of Eastern North Carolina as a 11th grade US History teacher, before returning to Knoxville to begin his career in major gifts fundraising. After serving both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering during the Campaign for Tennessee, the university's first $1 billion campaign, Nathan moved to Nashville where he currently holds the position of Associate Director of Major Gifts with United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. Nathan is married to Katie (Mathews) Zipper, also a UTK political science alumnus.